Reds Extend Dusty Baker

The Reds announced that they've agreed to a two-year contract extension with manager Dusty Baker (Twitter link). Baker, whose previous contract expired at the end of the 2012 season, will be under contract through 2014 on his new deal.

The Giants eliminated the Reds from the playoffs last week after a season that included 97 regular season wins and the NL Central title. Baker, who has managed the Reds since 2008, recently missed some time after suffering a mini-stroke. However, both sides have maintained interest in working out a new deal.

The Reds have won the NL Central twice since Baker was hired, and their overall winning percentage for the five year period is .517. The 63-year-old earned $3.5MM per season on his first contract with Cincinnati. In 19 seasons managing the Giants, Cubs and Reds, Baker has a 1581-1432 record, one NL pennant and three Manager of the Year awards.

General manager Walt Jocketty has said the contract situations of the team's coaches will be addressed once Baker's situation is resolved.

Dusty has both good and bad traits, but it’s my feeling that he’s past his prime. With his medical problems and latest postseason failure, it was time for the Reds to go in a new direction. They chose poorly.

That’s an interesting point. However, when you win 9 to 0 and two hit the Giants to go up 2 games to none and you still wind up losing the series. To me that’s a problem. Cueto getting hurt unexpectedly is one thing, but to blow up the way the Reds did, change is needed. That strike him out, throw him out play on Thursday’s game took whatever air was left in the Reds tires and rally. Baker was the one who called that double steal and no accounability was made here.
Walt Jocketty must be getting soft. Next thing you know, the Reds will be signing Madson for the 2013 season.

Lefty, So this is Dusty’s fault? In game 3 Rolen making the error was his fault? Cueto getting hurt was his fault? It was his fault in game 5 when Mat Latos was shelled by a team he has owned this season and even when he was with the Padres. It’s his fault they left 18men on base. 18! how many did they leave in scoring position in the last 3 innings.

But I guess by your estimation Girardi needs to be fired as well. After all it’s his fault Jeter broke his ankle. ARod, Cano and Swisher can’t hit to save their lives.

Mark Prior’s and Kerry Wood’s mechanics were begging for surgeries. Baker gets way too much flack for that. It’s another myth, just like “Dusty favors veterans”. I bet Wilson Valdez is wondering why he was never given a chance over Zack Cozart.

I don’t understand why people are so upset about this signing. The Reds were playing for the best record in the NL up until the last day of the season. Dusty didn’t lose those games in the playoffs, the team folded. He deserves to get paid.

I agree that people shouldn’t be complaining about Dusty. He has his faults, but you can’t assume there’s a replacement out there who can do better than him. These same people would be whining and wanting Dusty if he was replaced and the Reds fell back to being a perennial sub-.500 team.

The Reds were in a tough spot. They obviously know that Dusty isn’t a very good manager but they have been winning behind him and it would crush them to let him go and miss the playoffs next year but on the other hand they aren’t clearly better than the Cardinals or Brewers so it is pretty easy for them to miss the playoffs regardless of the manager. It is just a bad spot for them all around.